Chapter 3: Who is in Charge of the Purple Garden Spring

  All the way north, the weather got colder and colder, and there were more and more people like me and Jinxiu who had fallen to the ends of the earth. The original five became twelve, and the food provided by the ruthless human traffickers was pitifully little. There was also less space for activity, as they tried to save money by not staying in hotels whenever possible. We only ate one meal a day, and I gave half of my food to Jinxiu, so most of the time on the road, I chose to sleep to conserve energy. Even so, I still observed our group's situation: among the twelve children traveling with us, there were only five girls, and apart from Jinxiu, Biying, and barely including myself, they all looked rather plain.

  And those boys, all of them fixed their eyes on my embroidered shoes, just like the "Embroidered Phenomenon" in Huajia Village. As the saying goes, at home rely on parents, outside rely on friends, I thought about how to make a few friends among these people, if sold to a place, it's good to have someone to take care of. So I urged Embroidery to smile as friendly as possible, and under my eloquent tongue, the originally dull carriage had laughter.

  Among those boys, the one who often cries is called Qi Fang. He looks quite handsome and clean-cut. The one with eyes like bright stars is called Song Minghui. He has a scholarly air about him, just like my father, and his clothes are the cleanest among all of us.

  What's interesting is that Hei Lian, a Shandong native who speaks loudly like thunder, is older and taller than all of us. When he stands up in the train carriage, he has to bend his waist, giving off a very Zhang Fei vibe. But surprisingly, he shares the same name as the most pampered empress in history - Feiyan! Wow, his name is Yu Feiyan!

  At that time, my expression was a bit stunned, which was very rude. I knew that even Jin Xiu pushed me away and Zi Tong rarely gave me a white eye. Hmm? Could it be that she likes this kind of man?

  He smiled and scratched his head, saying: "The day before I was born, my mother dreamed of a flock of swallows flying back and forth, so she gave me this name."

  Seeing him so magnanimous, I felt embarrassed and made up for it by telling him the story of Zhao Feiyan, implying that he would become rich and noble in the future. He listened with a dazed expression, his small black face flushing red, just like my lovely nephew from my previous life. If I weren't too young now, and considering how well Jinxiu treats him, I'm afraid of ruining their sibling relationship, I really wanted to pinch his little face.

  The atmosphere in the carriage suddenly became lively, and those who were originally staring at Jinxiu's light all turned to me. Even Biying, who had fallen from a noble family, moved her eyes back from the top of her head and started chatting with me. However, when she found out that we were from a small mountain village and not from a scholarly family like hers, her eyes immediately returned to the top of her head again. Throughout the whole carriage, she only spoke to Song Mingpei. Hmph! Little girl.

  Song Minghui answered every question asked, but didn't speak unless spoken to, and was very reserved. He became close friends with Fei Yanyan and my sisters on the way. When they arrived at Jiangling Prefecture, Qi Fang was sold to a middle-class family surnamed Zhang as an apprentice. In Xiangzhou, two girls entered Yang's household as female entertainers. The four boys were again sold to another human trafficker. One night, Fei Yanyan overheard Chen Dama and the driver excitedly talking in the wilderness about how the four boys had been bought by the prefect of Tongzhou, who was known for liking young boys. Many male children's corpses were carried out of his mansion every month. Chen Dama said that this was a good business opportunity, and they would bring more boys next time.

  The children heard that the dead were very afraid, and after a moment of silence, Yu Feiyan asked me again: What is a child prostitute? I looked at Biying and Song Minghui, and unexpectedly they also had a very interested look at me, while I could only laugh dryly.

  To change the subject, I suggested that we swear an oath of brotherhood. Even if we couldn't stay in one place, if fate brought us together again someday, we could still share a drink and happy words. The ancients were indeed extremely enthusiastic about this sort of thing, exceeding my expectations - even Biying joined us. So we secretly got down from the cart, lined up in a row under the moonlight in the wilderness, and swore an oath to the moon.

  "I am Fei Yan, thirteen years old."

  "My name is Song Mingwei, I am 12 years old."

  "My name is Yao Biying, I am 10 years old."

  "I am eight years old."

  "I embroidered brocade at eight years old."

  "According to the order of seniority, we swear an oath together under the moon, and form a bond of brotherhood. From now on, we will share honor and shame, wealth and nobility. We do not seek to be born in the same year or month, but we seek to die in the same year and month..."

  I suddenly remembered last year's big yellow dog that had just given birth to five little puppies, who were desperately huddled together for warmth in order to survive.

  We children are all anxious about our floating fate, although we come from different places and have different backgrounds, the common experience makes us somewhat affectionate.

  After the establishment of the Xiao Wu Yi, a kind of inexplicable joy filled my heart. The lone goose that had fallen behind seemed to have found its flock again and was no longer alone. Although it was bitterly cold in the depths of winter, our hearts were warm. So we all smiled happily and simply. Jin Xiu still held onto my arm, but she laughed even more cheerfully.

  However, no one knew that even Song Mingyue, who later became famous for his incredible calculations, did not calculate under the moonlight at that time that we five people would become the figures of that era.

  So on the way we started calling each other brothers and sisters, and Old Lady Chen couldn't help but glare at us for a while.

  One day, in the thin dawn light, I arrived at a plain and stopped my ox cart by the river to rest. I was shivering with cold as I scooped water to wash my face. When I lifted my head, I saw Old Lady Chen silently examining me closely. At that moment, she startled me so much that I almost fell into the river.

  She squatted down and looked at me straight in the eye, saying: "I've spent my whole life traveling all over the place selling goods, but I've never seen a girl like you before. You're definitely not an ordinary person."

  I dryly laughed: "Mrs. Chen, you have a wide range of knowledge, I'm not ordinary."

  She batted her eyelashes at me and gave me a flirtatious glance. At the time, I didn't understand why she would give an eight-year-old kid like me such a look. Later on, I realized that she did this with everyone. All I heard her say was: "What a pity, you're following in your family's footsteps, just like your angelic little sister - you'll never amount to anything good."

  What does she mean! She wouldn't actually sell me and Jinxiu to a brothel, would she?! I panicked: "You're not going to sell me and Jinxiu to some disreputable place, are you?"

  She burst out laughing, and that big mole also laughed so hard it was shaking: "Don't worry! I, Chen Yu Jiao, am not a good person, but I've never pushed any girls into prostitution. Besides, you five are exactly the people General Xi Bei Yuan wants, how dare I sell you off just like that?"

  General Xīběi Yuán? I was puzzled, just about to ask again, she had already turned around and left with her coachman lover. However, at least I put my mind at ease, not having to become a fallen woman after all.

  More than a month had passed, and the willow trees along the way began to sprout green buds. The frozen river surface started to break and melt, and our ox cart entered a city with a magnificent atmosphere. We took a peek from behind the curtains towards the window, and saw that the streets were bustling with people, and the prosperity was unlike anywhere else. We had finally arrived at the ancient city of Xi'an.

  Out of the East City, along the Pan Mountain Road, a lush green mountain peak is reached. In an open area, two large stone lions are crouched, with three beast-head doors. As far as the eye can see, there are golden glazed tiles under which houses rise and fall, magnificent and grand.

  Right in front of me is a tall Hanbaiyu marble archway, towering above the ground. On both sides of the stone pillars are nine dragons flying and spitting beads. The four large characters "Ziqi Mountain Villa" are prominently engraved on the archway.

  I took a closer look at the signature and couldn't help but gasp, it turned out to be a personal imperial bestowal from the previous emperor of this dynasty. On both sides was a couplet: "Meritorious deeds shine brightly like the sun and moon, fame and fortune extend to one's children and grandchildren." It was also written in the imperial hand, no wonder Chen Dama wanted to reserve us, supposedly the best goods, for the northwest general's family.

  Zi Qiu, Zi Qiu, is it all predestined in the dark, as if it were specially set for Zi Fu's past life, brocade-like.

  I quietly asked Jinxiu if she liked it here, she shrank back a bit, tightly grasping my arm: "Muxi, that dragon on the pillar, I'm scared."

  We entered from the west corner gate, and Chen Dama led the way in silence. After a few turns, we arrived at the entrance of the hanging flower door. Two women with cold faces came out, and Chen Dama smiled and whispered to them for a while. One of them handed over some money, and only then were we allowed to enter through the hanging flower door. On both sides were corridors with carved railings, and in the center was a large screen made of purple sandalwood and marble. Behind the screen was a small three-room hall, and behind that was the main house. The front of the house had six rooms with intricately carved beams and rafters, and on either side were corridors with rooms. Colorful parrots and other birds hung from the eaves. On the platform above, several maidservants dressed in red and green stood in a row. As soon as they saw us arrive, one of them lifted the curtain and announced: "Madam, Chen Dama from Jianzhou has brought some new people."

  Hearing this, my heart finally put down, it turned out that this Chen Dama didn't sell us to the brothel after all.

  Upon entering the house, I was dazzled by the luxurious decorations. The air was filled with the fragrance of lilies, and a Western-style golden pendulum clock ticked away. My companions were almost blinded by the splendor, and we knelt in the outer room, separated from the inner room by a beaded curtain. In the inner room, a woman dressed in fine clothes sat on a couch, wearing a gold-embroidered headdress adorned with eight treasures and pearls, and a hairpin with five phoenixes and hanging pearls. Her red satin dress was embroidered with golden threads and butterflies, and she looked elegant and refined, exuding an aura of authority without being angry. Beside her stood a young man in a light blue robe, slightly bowing his waist, with a dust-free scholar's headdress on his head, adorned with a single hairpin welcoming guests.

  "I faintly heard the young man reply to the woman: 'Eighty frames of embroidered silk, carved lacquer and inkstone holders in various sizes, two hundred gold-silk gauze curtains, two hundred five-colored corded flower curtains, ten pieces of "Riches and Honors Long Spring" palace satin, ten pieces of "Good Fortune and Longevity" palace silk, ten purple-gold "Penholder Auspiciousness" seals, all the imperial gifts have been collected. This morning, General's flying pigeon delivered a letter saying that Young Master has arrived safely in Beijing, please don't worry, madam."

  The woman sipped a mouthful of tea and murmured "Hmm".

  "The cloud pearl who served as the second young lady's maid died of a sudden illness last month, and her parents said they came to take away her ashes tomorrow."

  "Yan Sheng, remember to give a few more taels of silver, poor thing, it's also considered growing up with Hei Yan together."

  "Yes, madam is indeed kind-hearted. Also, White Third wants to move to Xifeng's place to live, saying that the Purple Garden is too noisy."

  The lady hesitated for a moment: "That Xi Feng is so cold and aloof, and his legs are not convenient, with only one Mr. Han in front of him, how can this be good? The general is fine, but if outsiders find out, they will think that I, as the stepmother, am bullying him."

  "I used to think so too, but Mr. Han personally came over and mentioned that the hot springs in Xifengyuan are good for Master Bai's legs, living in Ziyuan, running to Xifengyuan every day is also a waste of energy."

  "Never mind, let him be, but tell the general about it tomorrow."

  "The lady said that there was also a message from Fourth Master Jue, saying that if the lady did not allow him to go to the Western Regions, he would..."

  "Alright, and again for that absurd matter of going to the Western Regions? Tell him not to bother me, really just like his mother, Fox Spirit's daughter, always thinking about running outside."

  I roughly figured out the situation in this family, it's a family of four children and one daughter, the eldest son followed his father to Beijing, the third and fourth child don't seem to be her biological children, the third child has leg problems, and the fourth child is like a hot-blooded young man who is enthusiastic about Yu Chunshun's Western Regions business.

  Just as we were all about to kneel down in exhaustion, the beaded curtain was lifted and the lady began to deal with us children.

  "Madam wants five children, I've found them for you, take a look." Chen Dama said with a flattering tone and a sly smile.

  Madam Yu's phoenix eyes swept across our faces and stopped on Jinxiu: "The one in the middle, lift your head."

  Jin Xiu shook her small body and raised her head, only to hear a loud crash, as someone dropped a cup. The original madam sucked in a cold breath: "Chen Dama, what kind of monster did you bring here? You even dare to send this purple-eyed barbarian into the mansion? Get out quickly!"

  Jin Xiu grew up in Huajia Village, and even her stepmother had never scolded her so harshly. I suddenly raised my head, only to see that her purple pupils were filled with tears, looking at me in a daze. The woman beside her was about to drag her away with a cold face. My heart tightened, and I gritted my teeth before rushing forward to tightly hug her, saying loudly: "Wait, the original mistress should take another good look at my family's Jin Xiu. She is not a demon, but a noble of Zi Yuan."

  As soon as I spoke, everyone was stunned, and even the lady was taken aback. She waved her hand, and the two maidservants left. She looked down at me: "What's your name."

  "My name is Huā Mùgēn, and this is my sister, Huā Jǐnxiù. We two sisters are from Jiànzhōu."

  A flicker of doubt flashed across her eyes: "Then tell me, how did your sister become a noblewoman in the Zi Garden?"

  I calmed my mind and replied calmly: "My family and I came from Jianzhou in the far east, and Jinxiu was born with a pair of purple pupils. Although Mu Ge didn't read much, he had also heard that the so-called 'Purple Air Coming from the East' is a good omen. This is the first point. Look at her brow, there is a beautiful mole, which is the 'Two Dragons Playing with Pearls' mole, indicating great wealth and nobility. This is the second point. My family's name Jinxiu is also taken from the phrase 'Flower Brocade', meaning that our original home will surely prosper. This is the third point. Combining these three points, I deduce that General Yuan must have fought bravely on the battlefield, and Madame Yuan's virtues and kindness moved heaven. The heavens sent Jinxiu to Ziqiu Mountain Villa as a sign of good fortune, indicating that within ten years, the Yuan family will surely rise to greatness and shine brightly like the sun and moon."

  After I finished speaking, I respectfully pulled down the curtain and bowed my head to the ground. In the silence, my sweat dripped from my forehead. After a while, I only heard the original madam lightly laugh: "You two lift your heads."

  I and Jinxiu raised our heads again, seeing that the original wife's eyes were profound and unfathomable, "Muxi flower's Muxi?"

  I was taken aback for a moment before I came to, she was asking me my name: "Yes, ma'am."

  "Yan Sheng, arrange for the purple-eyed flower brocade and the attendant next to Miss, the two boys will pretend to be the sons of the Zi Garden, this called Mu Qi's maid, go to the miscellaneous duty room first."

  No matter what, it's better for me and Jin Yu to settle down here than to sell smiles at the door. I let out a sigh of relief and gave Jin Yu a slight smile, implying that I would find a way to see her. My sworn brothers seemed to have also let out a sigh of relief, and my big brother Hei looked at me with an admiring gaze. However, many years later, he told me that at the time, he hadn't understood what I was saying at all.

  As I walked out the door, even with the screen in between, I felt a cold and sharp gaze on my back, making me shiver all over. I turned around to see a young man in white sitting in a wheelchair, but unfortunately, the thick curtains blocked his face from view. Behind him stood a tall and slender figure in green clothes. It wasn't until we had walked far away that the servant who escorted me out said, "Isn't that Young Master Bai? He rarely comes to pay respects at the mistress's quarters."